San Marino celebrates historic win over Liechtenstein

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By Martin Graham | 6th Sep 2024
San Marino made headlines with a landmark victory in the Nations League, triumphing over Liechtenstein in a competitive match. This win marks the first time San Marino, ranked as the lowest team in the world by FIFA, has secured a victory in a competitive fixture. The result ends a staggering 20-year and 140-game winless streak, with their previous win dating back to 2004 against the same opponent, Liechtenstein, with a matching scoreline.

The crucial goal came from 19-year-old Nicko Sensoli, who currently plays in Italy’s fourth tier. Sensoli, who was not born at the time of San Marino’s last win, scored in the 53rd minute by lobbing the ball over Liechtenstein’s goalkeeper, Benjamin Buchel. His goal ignited celebrations among the team as they held firm to secure this historic result.

Long-awaited victory and defensive mastery
San Marino’s previous record had seen them suffer 196 defeats out of 206 games. They endured a particularly harsh 10-0 loss to England in a World Cup qualifier in November 2021. However, recent performances have shown progress. Last October, San Marino managed to score their first competitive goal in two years, though they were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Denmark in a Euro 2024 qualifier. In March, they achieved a 0-0 draw with Saint Kitts and Nevis.

With a population of just 33,000 and an area of 61 square kilometers – about half the size of Manchester – San Marino is a small enclave surrounded by Italy and overlooked by the stunning Mount Titano. Despite its size, this victory represents a significant achievement for the footballing minnows.

Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer